u/edeyhookshots

The draft and Ja trade rumors get all the attention, but there are also extensions to consider. Ages in parentheses on opening night.

Jaylen Wells (23)

Jaylen had an inconsistent season and there seemed to be an outpouring of negativity in game threads about him after royalplants crashed out and wasn't around to defend him. But Jaylen ended the season on a very strong note: 14.2 PPG on 50/42/81 shooting from February on (22 games, 25.2 MPG). He continues to be an excellent defender on the perimeter, drawing the toughest assignments each night, while taking on a larger offensive role during the tank portion of the season.

Taylor Hendricks (22)

He had a rough start to his time with the Grizzlies (9.4 PPG on 42/31/47 shooting through his first 8 games), but then made huge improvements down the stretch (11.1 PPG on 48/35/78 shooting from that point on with 2.6 stocks. 18 games, 24.3 MPG). A lottery pick in the 2023 draft, he can capably defend multiple positions and play any spot in the front court.

GG Jackson, Jr. (21)

Three years in and GG is still the youngest guy on the team (until the draft at least), and he made a serious leap last season, particularly on the defensive end. He slid into the starting 5 in early February and posted 17/5.3/1.9 on 51/38/75 shooting over his final 27 games (25 starts, 25.8 MPG). Kleiman will almost certainly pick up GG's team option this summer, and both sides could work on an extension during the season.

As of right now, no one on the roster is locked in for the 2028-29 season (Ced, Walt, and Cam have team options) or beyond, so we can expect to see the core of the team's next generation begin to shape up soon, and I hope to see all three of these guys be a part of the team's future.

Looking at centers to come off the bench, here's a list of unrestricted free agents. There are other guys who are possibilities, either restricted free agents or guys with options, but here are just the UFAs (age in parentheses, descending order of 2025-26 salary):

Nikola Vucevic (35)

Jusuf Nurkic (31)

Zach Collins (28)

Mitchell Robinson (28)

Robert Williams III (28)

Moritz Wagner (29)

Nick Richards (28)

Andre Drummond (32)

Dwight Powell (34)

Kevin Love (37)

Bismack Biyombo (33)

DeAndre Jordan (37)

Jaxson Hayes (26)

Thomas Bryant (28)

Drew Eubanks (29)

Jock Landale (30)

Xavier Tillman (27)

Mason Plumlee (36)

Tony Bradley (28)

Charles Bassey (25)

I think it's fair to say that Edey won't play 82 games, but I'd even go so far as assume he won't play but 24-28 minutes a night. Who would you rather have splitting time with him and putting up 20+ minutes a game: pick #16, #32, or one of these guys? Does anyone stand out from this bunch?

https://preview.redd.it/270qn3cx6c1h1.png?width=605&format=png&auto=webp&s=aeb4a5f2f1d72a0af0a57b52bf27f61dc61cdb68

Fit be damned, the Jazz believe enough in Boozer to move back a spot to get him. In doing so, they also get their pick back for next season, which gives them control over a potential lottery ticket (under proposed changes) if they're not ready yet for the playoffs. There are obvious redundancies with Jaren and/or Lauri, but the Jazz are likely going into a final evaluation season before making a run, and they could still move someone before setting their core.

For Memphis, they take a big swing on Peterson to fill out a talented backcourt duo with Coward, letting him play the PG. Santi, GG, and Hendricks already give depth at the 4, so they pass on both Boozer and Wilson. They still have two FRPs next season.

Say what you will about Ja (and many of us have probably said too much), but this dude can still hoop at an extremely high level when he wants to. This was the second to last game he played, where he shot 7/13 from the field (3/4 from three) and was +26 in just 28 minutes.

There are too many posts out there about how we should package the #16 pick, or even #3, in order to move Ja. Most people outside of the Grizzlies fanbase are calling him washed, and even a fair number of Grizz fans say the same. DON'T BE FOOLED. This game was just a few months ago and he looked every bit like the former All-Star he was a few years back.

There is probably a good chance he doesn't suit up in Memphis again, but this talk about attaching a pick to dump him is absolutely stupid.

https://preview.redd.it/yo7rd5uo011h1.png?width=596&format=png&auto=webp&s=7af6cd38719a3c25e63b69cd399ea45cd055bcb9

My previous attempt at this got no love and I'm resigned to a similar fate here. Full disclosure: I'm a Grizzlies fan.

This deal would allow the Kings to drop below the second apron without waiving DeRozan and taking a cap hit on his partially guaranteed salary, while also allowing them to potentially move his expiring contract at the deadline to a playoff-bound team in need of some experience. Yes, Ja has an extra year on his deal than LaVine does, but the Kings will have more cap space next season when Ja's deal will be expiring.

Looking at Ja and LaVine as a wash, the deal is really about the #7 pick, which will likely be a freshman guard like Acuff or Flemings (I'm currently assuming Wagler goes to Clippers and the Nets end up taking Mikel Brown, but it's obviously too early to know). For this, the Grizzlies give up the #16 and #32 picks in this draft, Utah's unprotected pick next season, and the opportunity to swap with Memphis' for a potential lottery pick next summer. I see this as an overpay.

For the Kings, it's some much needed financial breathing room, an opportunity to retool around Sabonis, and they score some decent draft capital.

For the Grizzlies, it closes the chapter on Ja, frees up the #12 jersey for Boozer, and gives them a PG1 to build around, eliminating any incentive to tank next season by giving up control of their pick. A potential starting 5 could be: Acuff/Flemings, Ty Jerome, Coward, Boozer, Edey.

I wouldn't go any deeper on assets to make it happen, so if y'all still think the Kings would say no then I give up and will learn to accept whatever comes at pick #16.

#32 pick also on the table if necessary

The Kings get salary relief to drop below the second apron while also bringing in an unprotected FRP for next summer, when Ja's deal will be entering its final year.

The Grizzlies get a shot at one of Wagler, Acuff, Flemings, or Brown to pair with their #3 pick and hopefully become their PG of the future.

The #32 pick can be used to sweeten the pot if need be.

Personal bias: I think Ja can return to form in the right environment, and his ceiling is still higher than a guy like Flemings or Brown, who the Kings would otherwise end up with at #7. Obviously most people online don't feel that way, but the Kings might be willing to take a chance on a 26-year-old player with international recognition, a popular Nike shoe, and highlight potential.